My fairly old Powerbook G4 usually does not seem to start up from the Power button (though I think I can hear the fan running).

It always starts if I use Command-Control-Power.

Is it possible that is has started, but the screen does not come on until after you think it has failed to start, thus producing a coincidence between the C-C-P and power on? Only a WAG, because I'm not aware of any special C-C-P functionality when the computer is off.

Or... maybe the computer is asleep, and the Power button does nothing. C-C-P might restart the computer, tricking you into thinking it has just started up.

My fairly old Powerbook G4 usually does not seem to start up from the Power button (though I think I can hear the fan running).

It always starts if I use Command-Control-Power.

Is it possible that is has started, but the screen does not come on until after you think it has failed to start, thus producing a coincidence between the C-C-P and power on? Only a WAG, because I'm not aware of any special C-C-P functionality when the computer is off.

Or... maybe the computer is asleep, and the Power button does nothing. C-C-P might restart the computer, tricking you into thinking it has just started up.

These seem a possibility, but there is another factor. I hope there isn't an issue with the hard drive, but whenever the computer starts (either with Control-Command-Power or just with Power, which it occasionally does) there is a little grunt before the startup chime, and this does not occur when it fails to start from the Power button.

Did I say that it was a second-hand machine? Bought because I am in the UK, and have a close friend visiting from the USA. She regularly phones me to ask computer questions, and giving her this machine which has OS Xto take home will enable me to answer them knowing exactly what programs are on the machine (and even to use VNC to view her machine). --http://www.decohen.com Send e-mail to the Reply-To address;
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